The 'Cats have their second incoming transfer.
The NCAA transfer portal is officially open, and the Wildcats are adding to their secondary with an experienced defensive back.
Northwestern took advantage of an official visit on Monday, earning a commitment from Central Michigan cornerback Brenden Deasfernandes. The graduate transfer also received interest from Minnesota and California, but cancelled his subsequent visits following his trip to Evanston.
According to 247Sports' Allen Trieu, Deasfernandes chose the 'Cats because of David Braun's vision for the program, DC Tim McGarigle's "defensive ideology" and how much cornerbacks coach LaMarcus Hicks cared for the success of his players.
Deasfernandes is the second transfer to commit to Northwestern this cycle, joining Saginaw Valley State lineman David Anchondo.
The 2026 season will be Deasfernandes' seventh in college football, thanks to various redshirts due to injury and extra COVID-19 eligibility. He saw the field just once over his first three seasons at Iowa before playing 13 games for the Hawkeyes in 2023.
Deasfernandes then left for Central Michigan as a graduate transfer, where he found an expanded opportunity. He cracked the starting lineup for two games as a safety and appeared in all 12 of the Chippewas' contests in 2024, then broke out with career highs across the board this past fall.
In 13 games as primarily an outside corner in 2025, Deasfernandes totaled 25 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions. He started 10 games on both the left and right sides of the defense, including a matchup against Northwestern in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
Evidently, Braun and McGarigle liked what they saw in that game enough to pursue Deasfernandes in the transfer portal. Against the Wildcats, the 6-foot corner broke up four passes and tallied a pair of tackles.
Pro Football Focus gave Deasfernandes a 70.0 overall grade and a 72.6 coverage grade this season. He was targeted 39 times and allowed 21 receptions (53.8%), surrendering a lower completion percentage than any Northwestern defender last season (minimum 10 targets)
Deasfernandes will look to bring his experience to a Northwestern secondary that is losing a lot of talent. Seniors Fred Davis II and Ore Adeyi are graduating, reserves Dillon Tatum and Evan Smith are hitting the portal and redshirt junior Braden Turner could likely opt for either option.
The main holdover, assuming Turner transfers or enters the NFL Draft, is Josh Fussell. Deasfernandes and Fussell could very well form a lockdown duo of boundary corners to highlight a stout Wildcats defense next fall.